Serving robot including display means

Abstract

A serving robot including a display means is provided. The serving robot includes: a first display unit disposed on a front side of the serving robot; and a second display unit and a third display unit disposed on a left side and a right side of the serving robot, respectively, at the same height as the first display unit, wherein the first display unit, the second display unit, and the third display unit comprise at least one LED matrix configured to emit light in an outward direction of the serving robot, and a diffuser disposed on the at least one LED matrix.

Description

SERVING ROBOT INCLUDING DISPLAY MEANSCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claim the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 445,343 filed on February 14, 2023, the entire contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to a serving robot including a display means.BACKGROUND

[0003] Serving means providing objects including drinks or food to customers in a place such as a restaurant. In recent years, robots and the like have been developed and used for serving in place of, or rendering assistance to, waiters or waitresses. Such a robot usually functions to take food orders or carry out serving according to the orders, and may perform autonomous navigation using table position information or the like. The robot may comprise a transport means (including sensors for avoiding obstacles), a display means for menu output or order input, and the like. Further, the robot may include a means for placing or carrying food or food containers.

[0004] As an example of related conventional techniques, Korean Registered Patent Publication No. 10-1083700 discloses a restaurant serving robot system for taking orders in a restaurant and transporting a tray where ordered food is placed, the system comprising: an upper part including a pair of articulated robot arms which are synchronously driven, and a tray holding part rotatably coupled to a lower end of the articulated robot arms and configured to fix the tray; a lower part at a bottom part of which a robot moving part including a main wheel and one or more auxiliary wheels is provided; a middle part fixed to the lower part and rotatably connected to the upper part; and a control part configured to control the operations of the pair of articulated robot arms, the tray holding part, and the robot moving part, wherein the tray holding part comprises: a hand rotatably coupled to an end of the articulated robot arms; a fixing partprovided at the hand to move upward and downward; a gripper positioned at a bottom part of the tray and coupled to the fixing part; a stopper positioned at a top part of the tray and coupled to the fixing part to face the gripper; a switch pressed by the fixing part which moves upward when the stopper is pressed by the tray at the same time the end of the articulated robot arms is driven downward; a spring contracted when the fixing part moves upward; and a gripper angle detection unit configured to detect an angle of the gripper.

[0005] Meanwhile, although the techniques introduced so far have proposed various display means for visually displaying the operation status of a serving robot, they have a limitation in that visual information is shown only in one direction (or only in a specific direction) through a traditional LCD screen mounted in the serving robot, and have failed to propose a means for properly conveying the information displayed by the serving robot to customers and employees in various locations and situations in a restaurant.

[0006] In this connection, the inventor(s) present a serving robot capable of providing (or displaying) information in all directions through display units disposed along an outline of the serving robot on the front, left, and right sides thereof.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] One object of the present invention is to solve all the above-described problems in the prior art.

[0008] Another object of the invention is to provide a serving robot comprising: a first display unit disposed on a front side of the serving robot; and a second display unit and a third display unit disposed on a left side and a right side of the serving robot, respectively, at the same height as the first display unit, wherein the first display unit, the second display unit, and the third display unit comprise at least one LED matrix configured to emit light in an outward direction of the serving robot, and a diffuser disposed on the at least one LED matrix.

[0009] Yet another object of the invention is to enable a serving robot to display information in all directions (360 degrees), thereby effectively conveying visual information on the serving robot to people in various locations and situations in a restaurant.

[0010] Still another object of the invention is to provide a serving robot thatimplements an omnidirectional display in a cost effective manner.

[0011] The representative configuration of the invention to achieve the above objects are described below.

[0012] According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a serving robot including a display means, comprising: a first display unit disposed on a front side of the serving robot; and a second display unit and a third display unit disposed on a left side and a right side of the serving robot, respectively, at the same height as the first display unit, wherein the first display unit, the second display unit, and the third display unit comprise at least one LED matrix configured to emit light in an outward direction of the serving robot, and a diffuser disposed on the at least one LED matrix.

[0013] In addition, there are further provided other serving robots to implement the invention.

[0014] According to the invention, it is possible to enable a serving robot to display information in all directions (360 degrees), thereby effectively conveying visual information on the serving robot to people in various locations and situations in a restaurant.

[0015] According to the invention, it is possible to implement an omnidirectional display capable of interacting with a user (or manager) in a restaurant using only LED matrices and capacitive touch sensors, thereby providing a serving robot capable of dramatically improving human-robot interface and communication in a cost effective manner.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] FIG. 1 schematically shows the configuration of an entire system for controlling a serving robot according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0017] FIG. 2 specifically shows the internal configuration of a robot control system according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0018] FIG. 3 illustratively shows the configuration of a serving robot according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0019] FIG. 4 illustratively shows the configuration of a display unit according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0020] FIG. 5 illustratively shows the configuration of a display unit according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0021] FIG. 6 illustratively shows the configuration of a display unit according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0022] FIG. 7 illustratively shows a situation in which information is displayed on a display unit of a serving robot according to one embodiment of the invention.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] In the following detailed description of the present invention, references are made to the accompanying drawings that show, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. It is to be understood that the various embodiments of the invention, although different from each other, are not necessarily mutually exclusive. For example, specific shapes, structures and characteristics described herein may be implemented as modified from one embodiment to another without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Furthermore, it shall be understood that the positions or arrangements of individual elements within each embodiment may also be modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the invention is to be taken as encompassing the scope of the appended claims and all equivalents thereof. In the drawings, like reference numerals refer to the same or similar elements throughout the several views.

[0024] Hereinafter, various preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings to enable those skilled in the art to easily implement the invention.Configuration of the entire system

[0025] FIG. 1 schematically shows the configuration of the entire system for controlling a serving robot according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 1, the entire system according to one embodiment of the invention may comprise a communication network 100, a robot control system 200, and aserving robot 300.

[0027] First, the communication network 100 according to one embodiment of the invention may be implemented regardless of communication modality such as wired and wireless communications, and may be constructed from a variety of communication networks such as local area networks (LANs), metropolitan area networks (MANs), and wide area networks (WANs). Preferably, the communication network 100 described herein may be the Internet or the World Wide Web (WWW). However, the communication network 100 is not necessarily limited thereto, and may at least partially include known wired / wireless data communication networks, known telephone networks, or known wired / wireless television communication networks.

[0028] For example, the communication network 100 may be a wireless data communication network, at least a part of which may be implemented with a conventional communication scheme such as Wi-Fi communication, Wi-Fi Direct communication, Long Term Evolution (LTE) communication, 5G communication, Bluetooth communication (including Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication), infrared communication, and ultrasonic communication. As another example, the communication network 100 may be an optical communication network, at least a part of which may be implemented with a conventional communication scheme such as LiFi (Light Fidelity).

[0029] Next, the robot control system 200 according to one embodiment of the invention may function to acquire information sensed or collected from the serving robot 300, and control the display status or operation of the serving robot 300. In particular, the robot control system 200 according to one embodiment of the invention may control information displayed via a first display unit, a second display unit, and a third display unit of the serving robot 300 to be described below, and may control the display status or operation of the serving robot 300 in response to user manipulation inputted via capacitive touch sensors disposed on the first display unit, the second display unit, and the third display unit.

[0030] The configuration and functions of the robot control system 200 according to the invention will be discussed in more detail below.

[0031] Next, the serving robot 300 according to one embodiment of the invention is adevice capable of communicating with the robot control system 200 via the communication network 100 and performing predetermined functions or assigned tasks (e.g., serving food or retrieving containers) autonomously without any manipulation of a user (e.g., an employee or a customer), and may include a support configured to support at least one object. Further, the serving robot 300 according to one embodiment of the invention may include at least one of a module (e.g., a grab or a robotic arm module) for loading and unloading an object (e.g., a food tray), an imaging module (e.g., a visible light camera or an infrared camera) for acquiring images of surroundings, a scanner module (e.g., a LIDAR sensor) for acquiring information on obstacles, a sound acquisition module (e.g., a microphone) for acquiring sounds of surroundings, a display and speaker module for providing images or sounds, and a drive module (e.g., a motor) for moving the serving robot 300.

[0032] For example, the serving robot 300 may have characteristics or functions similar to those of at least one of a guide robot, a transport robot, a cleaning robot, a medical robot, an entertainment robot, a pet robot, and an unmanned flying robot. Meanwhile, supporting of an object herein should be interpreted as encompassing supporting of a container for containing an object such as food, a means where the container may be placed (e.g., a tray), or the like.

[0033] Meanwhile, according to one embodiment of the invention, the serving robot 300 may include an application (not shown) for controlling the serving robot 300 according to the invention. The application may be downloaded from the robot control system 200 or an external application distribution server (not shown). According to one embodiment of the invention, the characteristics of the application may be generally similar to those of program modules of the robot control system 200 to be described below. Here, at least a part of the application may be replaced with a hardware device or a firmware device that may perform a substantially equal or equivalent function, as necessary.

[0034] FIG. 3 illustratively shows the configuration of the serving robot 300 according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0035] Referring to FIG. 3, the serving robot 300 may comprise a main body 310, a drive unit 320, a processor (not shown), a light emission unit 340, and a display unit 350.

[0036] First, the main body 310 according to one embodiment of the invention may be coupled to supports 310a, 310b, and 310c configured to support at least one object. According to one embodiment of the invention, the supports 310a, 310b, and 310c may be removably coupled for cleaning, replacement, or the like. Further, each of the supports 310a, 310b, and 310c may include a weight sensor (not shown) for sensing a weight supported by each of the supports 310a, 310b, and 310c. According to one embodiment of the invention, the weight sensor may be implemented using one or more strain gauges (e.g., three strain gauges or four strain gauges). In addition, according to one embodiment of the invention, the weight sensor may interwork with the processor.

[0037] Further, the main body 310 according to one embodiment of the invention may include an image sensor (not shown) configured to photograph a spatial region above each of the supports 310a, 310b, and 310c, in place of or in addition to the weight sensor. Meanwhile, according to one embodiment of the invention, the image sensors configured to photograph the spatial regions above the respective supports 310a, 310b, and 310c are not necessarily included in the main body 310, and at least some of the image sensors may be installed on a structure in a serving place.

[0038] Meanwhile, the main body 310 according to one embodiment of the invention may include at least one loading space for loading an object. Further, according to one embodiment of the invention, the at least one loading space may include the supports 310a, 310b, and 310c. The object according to one embodiment of the invention may refer to all material objects that can be moved by the serving robot 300, and may encompass things, animals, and the like. For example, the object according to one embodiment of the invention may include an object to be served such as food and an object to be bussed such as a container containing the food.

[0039] Referring further to FIG. 3, the drive unit 320 according to one embodiment of the invention may comprise a module for moving the main body 310 to other locations. For example, the drive unit 320 may include a module related to electrically, mechanically, or hydraulically driven wheels, propellers, or the like as the module for moving the main body 310 to other locations.

[0040] Next, the processor according to one embodiment of the invention may be electrically connected to the drive unit 320 to perform a function of controlling the drive unit 320 (and may include a communication module for communicating with an external system). For example, the processor may be a data processing device that are embedded in hardware and have circuits physically structured to perform codes included in a program or functions represented by instructions. For example, such a data processing device embedded in hardware may include a processing device such as a microprocessor, a central processing unit, a processor core, a multiprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and a field programmable gate array (FPGA).

[0041] Further, the processor may perform the functions of at least one of a data acquisition unit 210 and a display status management unit 220 of the robot control system 200 according to the invention (e.g., the corresponding functions may be modularized and included in the processor), and may function to control the drive unit 320 through communication with an external system (not shown) that performs the functions of at least one of the data acquisition unit 210 and the display status management unit 220.

[0042] Specifically, the processor may acquire sensor data and order data on at least one object placed on at least one support coupled to the serving robot; specify a serving object to be served from among the at least one object, with reference to the sensor data and the order data, and emit light indicating a particular support on which the serving object is placed, from a part corresponding to the particular support in a light emission unit disposed on a pillar of the serving robot; and dynamically adjust the light emitted from the light emission unit on the basis of information on environment acquired during operation of the serving robot.

[0043] Referring further to FIG. 3, the serving robot 300 according to one embodiment of the invention may include a light emission unit 340 disposed on a pillar of the main body 310 along a longitudinal direction of the pillar. According to one embodiment of the invention, the light emission unit 340 may be formed to be long enough in a vertical direction to cover a section where at least the supports 310a, 310b and 310c mounted in the main body 310 of the serving robot 300 are disposed.

[0044] Further, according to one embodiment of the invention, the light emission unit340 may also be disposed at a lower part of the main body 310 of the serving robot 300.

[0045] However, the configuration of the light emission unit 340 disposed along the longitudinal direction of the pillar of the serving robot 300 according to one embodiment of the invention is not limited to the foregoing, and may be diversely changed as long as the objects of the invention may be achieved.

[0046] Next, referring to FIG. 3, the serving robot 300 according to one embodiment of the invention may include a display unit 350 disposed along an outline of the main body.

[0047] The display unit 350 according to one embodiment of the invention may include a first display unit 350a disposed on a front side of the serving robot 300, and may include a second display unit 350b and a third display unit 350c disposed on a left side and a right side of the serving robot 300, respectively, at the same height as the first display unit 350a.

[0048] For example, the first display unit 350a, the second display unit 350b, and the third display unit 350c according to one embodiment of the invention may be disposed along a perimeter of any one of the supports installed in the main body 310 of the serving robot 300.

[0049] Next, FIGS. 4 to 6 illustratively show the configuration of the display unit according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0050] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the first display unit 350a, the second display unit 350b, and the third display unit 350c constituting the display unit 350 according to one embodiment of the invention may all include at least one LED matrix 351a, 351b, 351c. For reference, FIG. 4 illustratively shows a top view of the LED matrix 351a, 351b, 351c included in the display unit 350 according to one embodiment of the invention, as seen from the top side of the serving robot 300, and FIG. 5 illustratively shows a front view of the LED matrix 351a, 351b, 351c included in the display unit 350 according to one embodiment of the invention, as seen from the front side of the serving robot 300.

[0051] For example, the first display unit 350a, the second display unit 350b, and the third display unit 350c may include three LED matrices 351a, 351b, and 351c combined with each other in a horizontal direction. When one LED matrix has a resolution of 16 pixels x 32 pixels, the first display unit 350a, the second display unit 350b, and the third display unit 350c may have a resolution of 3 x 16 pixels x 32 pixels, respectively.

[0052] Referring further to FIGS. 4 and 5, in at least one of the first display unit 350a, the second display unit 350b, and the third display unit 350c according to one embodiment of the invention, the LED matrix 351a, 351b, 351c may be disposed as tilted by a predetermined angle in an upward direction of the serving robot 300. For example, the LED matrix 351b of the second display unit 350b, which is disposed on the left side of the serving robot 300, and the LED matrix 351c of the third display unit 350c, which is disposed on the right side of the serving robot 300, may be disposed as tilted by a predetermined angle in an upward direction of the serving robot 300.

[0053] According to one embodiment of the invention, the first display unit 350a, the second display unit 350b, or the third display unit 350c shows visual information in a direction facing a location higher than the serving robot 300 as described above, so that it is possible to increase visibility to a user (e.g., a standing customer, a walking customer, or a customer sitting on a high chair) whose eyes are positioned higher than the height of the display unit 350 of the serving robot 300.

[0054] Referring further to FIGS. 4 and 5, in at least one of the first display unit 350a, the second display unit 350b, and the third display unit 350c according to one embodiment of the invention, the direction in which the LED matrix 351a, 351b, 351c shows the visual information may be determined according to an outline curvature of the serving robot 300 corresponding to the position in which the LED matrix 351a, 351b, 351c is disposed. For example, when three LED matrices 351a are included in the first display unit 350a, they may be disposed in a curved formation according to the curvature of the frontal part of the main body of the serving robot 300.

[0055] According to one embodiment of the invention, as the LED matrix 351a, 351b, 351c of the first display unit 350a, the second display unit 350b, or the third display unit 350c is disposed according to the outline curvature of the serving robot 300 as described above, the serving robot 300 may increase visibility in all directions around it.

[0056] Next, referring to FIG. 6, the first display unit 350a, the second display unit 350b, and the third display unit 350c constituting the display unit 350 according to one embodiment of the invention may each include a diffuser 352a, 352b, 352c. According to oneembodiment of the invention, the diffuser 352a, 352b, 352c may be disposed on the LED matrix 351a, 351b, 351c included in the first display unit 350a, the second display unit 350b, and the third display unit 350c, and may accordingly function to allow light emitted from the LED matrix 351a, 351b, 351c to be continuously and naturally shown to the outside.

[0057] Referring further to FIG. 6, the first display unit 350a, the second display unit 350b, and the third display unit 350c constituting the display unit 350 according to one embodiment of the invention may each include a light-transmissive capacitive touch sensor 353a, 353b, 353c. According to one embodiment of the invention, the light-transmissive capacitive touch sensor 352a, 352b, 352c may be disposed in a more outer location than the LED matrix 351a, 351b, 351c and the diffuser 352a, 352b, 352c, and may accordingly function to transmit light shown from the first display unit 350a, the second display unit 350b, and the third display unit 350c while detecting the user's touch manipulation inputted to the display unit 350.

[0058] Referring further to FIG. 6, the display unit 350 according to one embodiment of the invention may further include a cover unit 354 surrounding each component of the first display unit 350a, the second display unit 350b, and the third display unit 350c. According to one embodiment of the invention, the cover unit 354 may be dark-tinted, and may accordingly function to increase visibility of visual information shown from the first display unit 350a, the second display unit 350b, and the third display unit 350c.Configuration of the robot control system

[0059] Hereinafter, the internal configuration of the robot control system 200 crucial for implementing the invention and the functions of the respective components thereof will be discussed.

[0060] FIG. 2 specifically shows the internal configuration of the robot control system 200 according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0061] As shown in FIG. 2, the robot control system 200 according to one embodiment of the invention may comprise a data acquisition unit 210, a display status management unit 220, a communication unit 230, and a control unit 240. According to one embodiment of the invention, at least some of the data acquisition unit 210, the display status management unit 220, the communication unit 230, and the control unit 240 may be program modules thatcommunicate with an external system (not shown). The program modules may be included in the robot control system 200 in the form of operating systems, application program modules, and other program modules, while they may be physically stored in a variety of commonly known storage devices. Further, the program modules may also be stored in a remote storage device that may communicate with the robot control system 200. Meanwhile, such program modules may include, but are not limited to, routines, subroutines, programs, objects, components, and data structures for performing specific tasks or executing specific abstract data types according to the invention as will be described below.

[0062] Meanwhile, the above description is illustrative although the robot control system 200 has been described as above, and it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that at least a part of the components or functions of the robot control system 200 may be implemented or included in the serving robot 300 or an external system (not shown), as necessary. Further, in some cases, all of the functions and components of the robot control system 200 may be implemented or included in the serving robot 300.

[0063] First, the data acquisition unit 210 according to one embodiment of the invention may acquire sensor data and order data on at least one object placed on at least one support coupled to the serving robot 300.

[0064] Specifically, a support may be coupled to the serving robot 300 according to one embodiment of the invention, and at least one object (e.g., an object to be served or an object to be bussed) may be placed on the support. Further, at least one first sensor (not shown) for acquiring first sensor data on the at least one object may be coupled to the serving robot 300 according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0065] More specifically, the sensor data acquired by the data acquisition unit 210 according to one embodiment of the invention using the first sensor may include sensor data for recognizing (or detecting) at least one object placed on the support. According to one embodiment of the invention, the object refers to an object transported by the serving robot 300 to be provided to a customer, and should be understood as encompassing an object retrieved by the serving robot 300 from the customer for washing or the like. Further, the object mostly refers to food but does not exclude dinnerware or other tools for eating.

[0066] For example, as described above, the sensor data according to one embodiment of the invention may include image data acquired from an image sensor with respect to at least one object placed on the support. That is, the data acquisition unit 210 according to one embodiment of the invention may acquire an image photographed by an image sensor configured to photograph a spatial region above the support, or a change in the image, as the sensor data on the at least one object placed on the support.

[0067] As another example, the sensor data may include data on a weight sensed by a weight sensor included in the support, or a change in the weight.

[0068] As another example, the data acquisition unit 210 according to one embodiment of the invention may decide whether at least one object is placed on the support on the basis of the weight data, and then when at least one object is placed on the support, the image sensor may acquire image data on the at least one object as the sensor data.

[0069] However, the sensor data on at least one object placed on the support coupled to the serving robot 300 is not limited to the foregoing, and may be diversely changed as long as the objects of the invention may be achieved. Further, according to one embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that the sensor data may be acquired for each of the at least one object placed on the support.

[0070] Further, the data acquisition unit 210 according to one embodiment of the invention may further acquire order data on orders to be processed by the serving robot.

[0071] Specifically, according to one embodiment of the invention, the order data may include data on which food (or serving object) is to be provided to which customer (or table), or data on which plate (or bussing object) is to be retrieved from which customer (or table). Further, according to one embodiment of the invention, the order data may include data on which serving object or bussing object is placed on which support of the serving robot 300.

[0072] Next, the display status management unit 220 according to one embodiment of the invention may specify a serving object to be served from among at least one object mounted in the serving robot 300, with reference to the sensor data and the order data.

[0073] For example, when the sensor data according to one embodiment of the invention includes image data on at least one object placed on the support, the display statusmanagement unit 220 according to one embodiment of the invention may process the image data on the at least one object using a machine learning-based object recognition model for objects that may be placed on the support, thereby deciding whether the at least one object is a serving object and specifically recognizing what the at least one object is. Here, according to one embodiment of the invention, the object recognition model may be implemented using an algorithm such as R-CNN (Region-based Convolutional Neural Network), YOLO (You Only Look Once), and SSD (Single Shot Detector). However, the object recognition model is not necessarily limited to the foregoing and may be diversely changed as long as the objects of the invention may be achieved.

[0074] As another example, when the sensor data according to one embodiment of the invention includes weight data on at least one object placed on the support, the display status management unit 220 according to one embodiment of the invention may compare and analyze data on the weight or a change in the weight and the weight of an object (or food) to be ordered, thereby specifically recognizing which object is placed on which support and deciding whether an object placed on a particular support is a serving object to be served.

[0075] Further, the display status management unit 220 according to one embodiment of the invention may manage information displayed via the display unit 350 of the serving robot 300.

[0076] FIG. 7 illustratively shows a situation in which information is displayed on a display unit of a serving robot according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0077] Referring to FIG. 7, the display status management unit 220 according to one embodiment of the invention may manage the display status of each of the first display unit 350a, the second display unit 350b, and the third display unit 350c constituting the display unit 350 of the serving robot 300.

[0078] For example, the display status management unit 220 according to one embodiment of the invention may cause the first display unit 350a, the second display unit 350b, or the third display unit 350c to display in-store advertising information.

[0079] As another example, the display status management unit 220 according to one embodiment of the invention may cause the first display unit 350a, the second display unit 350b,or the third display unit 350c to display a message for a particular customer (e.g., "Happy Birthday [name]!").

[0080] As another example, the display status management unit 220 according to one embodiment of the invention may cause the first display unit 350a, the second display unit 350b, or the third display unit 350c to display information on a movement intention of the serving robot 300.

[0081] As another example, the display status management unit 220 according to one embodiment of the invention may cause the first display unit 350a, the second display unit 350b, or the third display unit 350c to display information on from which support (or tray) of the serving robot 300 a user should remove food.

[0082] As another example, the display status management unit 220 according to one embodiment of the invention may cause the first display unit 350a, the second display unit 350b, or the third display unit 350c to display user guidance information for prompting to input a touch manipulation to move the serving robot 300 to a next destination.

[0083] As another example, the display status management unit 220 according to one embodiment of the invention may cause the first display unit 350a, the second display unit 350b, or the third display unit 350c to display a message for directing a customer to a table to be seated (e.g., "Here's your table.").

[0084] As another example, the display status management unit 220 according to one embodiment of the invention may cause the first display unit 350a, the second display unit 350b, or the third display unit 350c to display a message for indicating to nearby users that the food placed on the support (or tray) of the serving robot 300 is hot.

[0085] As another example, the display status management unit 220 according to one embodiment of the invention may cause the first display unit 350a, the second display unit 350b, or the third display unit 350c to display two or more button areas (e.g., "Yes" and "No") that may receive a touch manipulation from a user. Specifically, the serving robot 300 according to one embodiment of the invention may output a voice message for asking if there are additional items to order. In response to the user inputting a touch manipulation corresponding to "Yes" to the first display unit 350a, the second display unit 350b, or the third display unit 350c of theserving robot 300, the serving robot 300 according to one embodiment of the invention may rotate the serving robot 300 so that a screen (or a large touch screen) capable of displaying detailed information on the additional items to order is positioned in front of the user.

[0086] Next, the communication unit 230 according to one embodiment of the invention may function to enable data transmission / reception from / to the data acquisition unit 210 and the display status management unit 220.

[0087] Lastly, the control unit 240 according to one embodiment of the invention may function to control data flow among the data acquisition unit 210, the display status management unit 220, and the communication unit 230. That is, the control unit 240 according to one embodiment of the invention may control data flow into / out of the robot control system 200 or data flow among the respective components of the robot control system 200, such that the data acquisition unit 210, the display status management unit 220, and the communication unit 230 may carry out their particular functions, respectively.

[0088] The embodiments according to the invention as described above may be implemented in the form of program instructions that can be executed by various computer components, and may be stored on a computer-readable recording medium. The computer- readable recording medium may include program instructions, data fdes, and data structures, separately or in combination. The program instructions stored on the computer-readable recording medium may be specially designed and configured for the present invention, or may also be known and available to those skilled in the computer software field. Examples of the computer-readable recording medium include the following: magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks and magnetic tapes; optical media such as compact disk-read only memory (CD- ROM) and digital versatile disks (DVDs); magneto-optical media such as floptical disks; and hardware devices such as read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM) and flash memory, which are specially configured to store and execute program instructions. Examples of the program instructions include not only machine language codes created by a compiler, but also high-level language codes that can be executed by a computer using an interpreter. The above hardware devices may be changed to one or more software modules to perform the processes of the present invention, and vice versa.

[0089] Although the present invention has been described above in terms of specific items such as detailed elements as well as the limited embodiments and the drawings, they are only provided to help more general understanding of the invention, and the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains that various modifications and changes may be made from the above description.

[0090] Therefore, the spirit of the present invention shall not be limited to the abovedescribed embodiments, and the entire scope of the appended claims and their equivalents will fall within the scope and spirit of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A serving robot including a display means, comprising: a first display unit disposed on a front side of the serving robot; and a second display unit and a third display unit disposed on a left side and a right side of the serving robot, respectively, at the same height as the first display unit, wherein the first display unit, the second display unit, and the third display unit comprise: at least one LED matrix configured to emit light in an outward direction of the serving robot; and a diffuser disposed on the at least one LED matrix.

2. The serving robot of Claim 1, wherein in at least one of the first display unit, the second display unit, and the third display unit, the at least one LED matrix is disposed as tilted by a predetermined angle in an upward direction of the serving robot.

3. The serving robot of Claim 1, wherein the first display unit, the second display unit, and the third display unit are disposed along a perimeter of a support installed in the serving robot.

4. The serving robot of Claim 1, wherein in at least one of the first display unit, the second display unit, and the third display unit, a direction in which the at least one LED matrix faces is determined according to an outline curvature of the serving robot corresponding to a position in which the at least one LED matrix is disposed.

5. The serving robot of Claim 3, further comprising a cover unit configured to surround the first display unit, the second display unit, and the third display unit and formed along the perimeter of the support.

6. The serving robot of Claim 1, wherein the first display unit, the second display unit, and the third display unit further comprise a light-transmissive capacitive touch sensor disposed onthe diffuser.

7. The serving robot of Claim 1, wherein information displayed via the at least one LED matrix is determined in conjunction with a sensing operation of the light-transmissive capacitive touch sensor.

Images